J&J submits risk report of Reminyl - Stock value of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Company has fallen down from 64 cents to 61.85 as the company unveiled the risks carried by its drug Reminyl. The company has submitted the study report to the FDA.
Reminyl is a cholinesterase inhibitor that is extracted from daffodil bulbs. It boosts the levels of acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits nerve signals in the brain. Johnson & Johnson earns about US$200 million a year from the drug.
Reminyl is generally used for treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease since its approval in 2001. The study conducted by J&J attempted to check whether the drug could be used for treating cognitive impairment that leads to memory loss and may develop into Alzheimer's disease.
Observations made by the researchers in the last two years during the course of the study revealed that patients taking Reminyl showed higher death rate than those on placebo. 15 patients taking Reminyl died compared with five taking the placebo.
Although the drug is approved in 69 countries as an effective treatment on mild to moderate conditions of Alzheimer, it is not yet approved for treating cognitive impairment. The company has said that they are not planning to make any application for this use of the drug.
Carol Goodrich spokeswoman for the company said “the health authorities that are reviewing this data ... are still supporting its use for the approved indication, which is mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease."
Health Canada’s spokeswoman Carole Saindon, said data is not yet completely analyzed and they would keep the public informed as new developments surface. She said that, "it's very important that patients don't stop taking the medication without consulting their doctor first."
